A Bit of a puzzle in Clement

[heirmiles]

CHAPTER '40.

LET US PRESERVE IN THE CHURCH THE ORDER APPOINTED BY GOD.

These things therefore being manifest to us, and since we look into the depths of the
divine knowledge, it behooves us to do all things in [their proper] order, which the Lord
has commanded us to perform at stated times. He has enjoined offerings [to be presented]
and service to be performed [to Him], and that not thoughtlessly or irregularly, but at the
appointed times and hours. Where and by whom He desires these things to be done,
He Himself has fixed by His own supreme will, in order that all things being piously done
according to His good pleasure, may be acceptable unto Him. Those, therefore, who present
their offerings at the appointed times, are accepted and blessed; for his own peculiar services
are assigned to the high priest, and their own proper place is prescribed to the priests, and
their own special ministrations devolve on the Levites. The layman is bound by the laws
that pertain to laymen.

'(p. '40.)

CHAPTER '41.
CONTINUATION OF THE SAME SUBJECT.

Let every one of you, brethren, give thanks to God in his own order, living in all good conscience,
with becoming gravity, and not going beyond the rule of the ministry prescribed to him.
Not in every place, brethren, are the daily sacrifices offered, or the peace-offerings, or the
sin-offerings and the trespass-offerings, but in Jerusalem only. And even there they are
not offered in any place, but only at the altar before the temple, that which is offered being
first carefully examined by the high priest and the ministers already mentioned. Those, therefore,
who do anything beyond that which is agreeable to His will, are punished with death. Ye see,
brethren, that the greater the knowledge that has been vouchsafed to us, the greater also
is the danger to which we are exposed.

The above is a quote from Clement's Letter to the Corinthians in Volume 1 of the Early Church Fathers, Ages Software


Just trying to process what he is saying here. In the first paragraph is he referring to an order of service as the Corinthians were
known to be disruptive during worship, is he referring to a form of daily hour service such as the liturgy of the hours? And then, is he referring to our collection of tithes and offerings done only at appointed times, and if not given at the specific time then they aren't accepted and blessed? But then he jumps over to the Levitical priesthood in the context of the second paragraph (chapter '41) Giving the idea of an idea of the priesthood being modeled on the levitical example, except he does so in the terms of the Levitical high-priest while we know Christ Jesus is our high-priest. Or his he simply telling us that this is the burden of the Levitical priesthood, which demands complete and utter compliance, and thus our own service must be conducted in and only in the complete righteousness of Christ?

Or in knowing the Holy Righteous Justice of God, Christ only can meet that service and ministry, for without Him we are surely undone.

 

[HTacianas]

CHAPTER '40.

LET US PRESERVE IN THE CHURCH THE ORDER APPOINTED BY GOD.

These things therefore being manifest to us, and since we look into the depths of the
divine knowledge, it behooves us to do all things in [their proper] order, which the Lord
has commanded us to perform at stated times. He has enjoined offerings [to be presented]
and service to be performed [to Him], and that not thoughtlessly or irregularly, but at the
appointed times and hours. Where and by whom He desires these things to be done,
He Himself has fixed by His own supreme will, in order that all things being piously done
according to His good pleasure, may be acceptable unto Him. Those, therefore, who present
their offerings at the appointed times, are accepted and blessed; for his own peculiar services
are assigned to the high priest, and their own proper place is prescribed to the priests, and
their own special ministrations devolve on the Levites. The layman is bound by the laws
that pertain to laymen.

'(p. '40.)

CHAPTER '41.
CONTINUATION OF THE SAME SUBJECT.

Let every one of you, brethren, give thanks to God in his own order, living in all good conscience,
with becoming gravity, and not going beyond the rule of the ministry prescribed to him.
Not in every place, brethren, are the daily sacrifices offered, or the peace-offerings, or the
sin-offerings and the trespass-offerings, but in Jerusalem only. And even there they are
not offered in any place, but only at the altar before the temple, that which is offered being
first carefully examined by the high priest and the ministers already mentioned. Those, therefore,
who do anything beyond that which is agreeable to His will, are punished with death. Ye see,
brethren, that the greater the knowledge that has been vouchsafed to us, the greater also
is the danger to which we are exposed.

The above is a quote from Clement's Letter to the Corinthians in Volume 1 of the Early Church Fathers, Ages Software


Just trying to process what he is saying here. In the first paragraph is he referring to an order of service as the Corinthians were
known to be disruptive during worship, is he referring to a form of daily hour service such as the liturgy of the hours? And then, is he referring to our collection of tithes and offerings done only at appointed times, and if not given at the specific time then they aren't accepted and blessed? But then he jumps over to the Levitical priesthood in the context of the second paragraph (chapter '41) Giving the idea of an idea of the priesthood being modeled on the levitical example, except he does so in the terms of the Levitical high-priest while we know Christ Jesus is our high-priest. Or his he simply telling us that this is the burden of the Levitical priesthood, which demands complete and utter compliance, and thus our own service must be conducted in and only in the complete righteousness of Christ?

Or in knowing the Holy Righteous Justice of God, Christ only can meet that service and ministry, for without Him we are surely undone.

Don't read that much into it. He is merely saying there is a time and place for everything and everyone has their place. He is using the rigors of the Levitical priesthood as an example of it. Paul said basically the same thing to the Thessalonians:

2Th 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

 

[heirmiles]

He is using the rigors of the Levitical priesthood as an example of it.


I think you're right there, I was looking at the branches of the trees rather than the forest

Now that I've had time to reflect I think in the larger concept of the letter that Clement was concerned about the envious nature of some in the congregation who had become contentious with the leadership of the church, and thus things had become unbearable during their service. In pointing back to the call and ministry of Aaron's family in the priestly office, which eventually had also come under attack by other Levites (the solution which was found was the budding staff of Aaron in comparison to non budding staffs of the other Levite families); Clement not only pointed to detailed aspects of Aaron's priesthood, to show how much was involved in that ministry, but also did so as an example of the nature of God's calling upon the elders and deacons of the church who some had outright rejected. These same ministers had been appointed by those who had brought the gospel to them; and should not be spuriously rejected from the ministry since they had served faithfully without blame or fault.